Researchers from the University of Queensland (Australia), together with scientists from the University of California, found that toxins from the caterpillar venom penetrate cells in the same way as toxins produced by pathogenic bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella. The discovery could aid drug development. The results of the study were: published In the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
The authors studied the caterpillars of the butterfly Megalopyge opercularis, one of the most venomous caterpillars in North America. The caterpillar’s body is covered with long thick hairs with venomous spines underneath. One touch is enough to cause redness and bruising at the contact site. The poison also causes severe pain, burning, headache, vomiting, nausea, drowsiness, and difficulty breathing.
“This caterpillar’s venom is different from any insect venom we’ve studied before. We’ve identified proteins in it that resemble nausea-inducing bacterial toxins. They bind to the surface of cells and assemble into ring-like structures. It’s these doughnuts that break through the cell membrane and get in. The venom in these caterpillars has been around for more than 400 million years. evolved some time ago as a result of gene transfer from bacteria,” the authors explain.
Poisons are a rich source of new molecules that can be turned into drugs. Usually for these purposes, the venom of snakes and spiders, not caterpillars, is used. Therefore, this is a poorly explored area.
“These toxins have special potential for drug delivery due to their ability to enter cells. We will continue to study these, perhaps we will find a way to design a molecule according to a similar principle that can kill cancer cells,” the authors concluded.
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